A British woman has been missing for more than a week after taking a hike to a lake filled with crocodiles while searching for wildlife.
Elaine McSorley, 71, and her husband Leon, 81, left their hotel to take a short walk at Mkhuze in South Africa’s KwaZulu Province.
Leon decided to return to their accommodation after finding the intense heat too much, but Elaine continued to explore the area.
Three hours later the alarm was raised when she never returned, and a search has been underway for her since September 27.
Signs at the Ghost Mountain Inn where the couple were staying warned visitors of crocodiles.
Elaine was reported by the hotel to have asked for directions from a local farmer.
The area where she disappeared is thought to be low on crime and police believe Elaine would have already been found had she died from natural causes.
A search involving locals, a police helicopter and K9 units has so far found no trace of her.
Crocodiles are linked with hundreds of deaths each year across Africa.
They boast the strongest bite in the world and can weigh up to 1,650lbs and measure up to 20ft long.
Investigators are also mystified as to why her husband checked out of the hotel so soon after his wife went missing and while the police search was ongoing.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza of the SA police said: ‘The British couple checked into the Ghost Mountain Inn at 1pm and went for a walk at 2pm.
‘According to the husband during the walk to the lake he decided to turn back and returned to the hotel but when she did not return he raised the alarm.
‘We have been searching day and night but there is no sign of her. It is like she has vanished into thin air. The dogs have picked up no traces either.
‘If she had simply collapsed and died we would have found her by now. There are theories as to what happened but I am not going to speculate.’
Ghost Mountain Inn is surrounded by reserves, with species including lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and leopards.
One member of a local community police forum reported that Leon suggested his wife had gone to the lake in order to photograph a particular hippo.
‘It is a mystery as it is a very safe area for tourists and there is no sign of a crime having happened’, they said.
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